Zambian general election, 2006
Encyclopedia
General elections were held in Zambia
on 28 September 2006 to elect a President and National Assembly
. The result was a victory for the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, which won 75 of the 150 National Assembly seats and whose candidate, Levy Mwanawasa
, won the presidential vote. Voter turnout
was just over 70%.
leader Michael Sata
was strongly critical of Chinese
investment in the country and suggested that he would recognize the Republic of China
(Taiwan). One opinion poll in September gave Sata a considerable lead over Mwanawasa, 52% to 27%, with Hakainde Hichilema
in third place at 20%, but Mwanawasa questioned these results. Another poll earlier in the month gave Mwanawasa the lead with 33% to Sata's 24%, although this marked a drop from the 45% reported for Mwanawasa by a previous poll in August, and an increase for Sata, who had been at 15%.
Former president Kenneth Kaunda
backed Hichilema and expressed disapproval for Sata. Former president Frederick Chiluba
urged people to vote for Sata.
The possibility was raised that Sata could be disqualified from the election for allegingly giving a false declaration of assets in August; he had claimed that a former minister in Mwanawasa's government owed him $100,000.
Late in the afternoon of 2 October, the Zambian Electoral Commission announced that Mwanawasa had officially won the election with 43% of the vote; Sata took second place with 29% and Hichilema took third place with 25%. He was sworn in for another term on 3 October.
The total electorate was 3,941,229 and 2,789,114 votes were cast of which 48,936 were spoilt. Voter turnout was 70.77%.
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
on 28 September 2006 to elect a President and National Assembly
National Assembly of Zambia
The unicameral National Assembly of Zambia is the country's legislative body.The current National Assembly, formed following elections held on 20 September 2011, has a total of 156 members . 150 members are directly elected in single-member constituencies using the simple majority system...
. The result was a victory for the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, which won 75 of the 150 National Assembly seats and whose candidate, Levy Mwanawasa
Levy Mwanawasa
Levy Patrick Mwanawasa was the third President of Zambia. He ruled the country from January 2002 until his death in August 2008. He is credited for having initiated a campaign to rid the country of corruption...
, won the presidential vote. Voter turnout
Voter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
was just over 70%.
Campaign
During the campaign, Patriotic FrontPatriotic Front (Zambia)
The Patriotic Front movement is the Zambian ruling political party. It is currently the most widely supported political party in Zambia. The Party was formed by Michael Sata as a breakaway party of the MMD in 2001. This was after the then-president Frederick Chiluba nominated Levy Mwanawasa as the...
leader Michael Sata
Michael Sata
Michael Chilufya Sata is a Zambian politician who has been the fifth President of Zambia since 23 September 2011. He leads the Patriotic Front , a major political party in Zambia. Under President Frederick Chiluba, Sata was a minister during the 1990s as part of the Movement for Multiparty...
was strongly critical of Chinese
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
investment in the country and suggested that he would recognize the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(Taiwan). One opinion poll in September gave Sata a considerable lead over Mwanawasa, 52% to 27%, with Hakainde Hichilema
Hakainde Hichilema
Hakainde Hichilema is a Zambian politician and the President of the United Party for National Development . He replaced Anderson Mazoka after an interparty election, organized by functioning party president Sakwiba Sikota, which followed Mazoka's death in May 2006...
in third place at 20%, but Mwanawasa questioned these results. Another poll earlier in the month gave Mwanawasa the lead with 33% to Sata's 24%, although this marked a drop from the 45% reported for Mwanawasa by a previous poll in August, and an increase for Sata, who had been at 15%.
Former president Kenneth Kaunda
Kenneth Kaunda
Kenneth David Kaunda, known as KK, served as the first President of Zambia, from 1964 to 1991.-Early life:Kaunda was the youngest of eight children. He was born at Lubwa Mission in Chinsali, Northern Province of Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia...
backed Hichilema and expressed disapproval for Sata. Former president Frederick Chiluba
Frederick Chiluba
Frederick Jacob Titus Chiluba was a Zambian politician who was the second President of Zambia from 1991 to 2002. Chiluba, a trade union leader, won the country's multi-party presidential election in 1991 as the candidate of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy , defeating long-time President...
urged people to vote for Sata.
The possibility was raised that Sata could be disqualified from the election for allegingly giving a false declaration of assets in August; he had claimed that a former minister in Mwanawasa's government owed him $100,000.
Results
The winner of the election was determined in one round according to the first past the post system. Initial results from the election gave Sata the lead, but further results put Mwanawasa in first place and pushed Sata into third place. Interim results released after votes from 120 of 150 constituencies were counted put Mwanawasa on just over 42% of the vote; Hakainda Hichilema had 28%; and Michael Sata had slipped to 27%. When opposition supporters heard that Sata had slipped from first to third place, riots erupted in Lusaka. According to interim results Mwanawasa still held an easy lead in constituencies counted up to 16:00 on 1 October.Late in the afternoon of 2 October, the Zambian Electoral Commission announced that Mwanawasa had officially won the election with 43% of the vote; Sata took second place with 29% and Hichilema took third place with 25%. He was sworn in for another term on 3 October.
The total electorate was 3,941,229 and 2,789,114 votes were cast of which 48,936 were spoilt. Voter turnout was 70.77%.
Presidential election
| Candidates | Party/Coalition | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Levy Mwanawasa Levy Mwanawasa Levy Patrick Mwanawasa was the third President of Zambia. He ruled the country from January 2002 until his death in August 2008. He is credited for having initiated a campaign to rid the country of corruption... |
Movement for Multi-Party Democracy | 1,177,846 | 43.0 |
| Michael Sata Michael Sata Michael Chilufya Sata is a Zambian politician who has been the fifth President of Zambia since 23 September 2011. He leads the Patriotic Front , a major political party in Zambia. Under President Frederick Chiluba, Sata was a minister during the 1990s as part of the Movement for Multiparty... |
Patriotic Front Patriotic Front (Zambia) The Patriotic Front movement is the Zambian ruling political party. It is currently the most widely supported political party in Zambia. The Party was formed by Michael Sata as a breakaway party of the MMD in 2001. This was after the then-president Frederick Chiluba nominated Levy Mwanawasa as the... |
804,748 | 29.4 |
| Hakainde Hichilema Hakainde Hichilema Hakainde Hichilema is a Zambian politician and the President of the United Party for National Development . He replaced Anderson Mazoka after an interparty election, organized by functioning party president Sakwiba Sikota, which followed Mazoka's death in May 2006... |
United Democratic Alliance United Democratic Alliance (Zambia) The United Democratic Alliance is an alliance of parties in Zambia. It is formed by the* United Party for National Development* United National Independence Party* Forum for Democracy and Development... |
693,772 | 25.3 |
| Godfrey Miyanda Godfrey Miyanda Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda is a Zambian politician and former military figure. In 1994 he became Vice President of Zambia under Frederick Chiluba's administration. Formerly a member of the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, Miyanda is the President of the Heritage Party.-References:... |
Heritage Party | 42,891 | 1.6 |
| Winwright Ngondo | APC | 20,921 | 0.8 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 48,936 | - | |
| Total | 2,789,114 | 100 | |
| Source: EISA | |||
National Assembly elections
| Party | Votes | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Movement for Multi-Party Democracy | 50.0 | 75 | |
| Patriotic Front Patriotic Front (Zambia) The Patriotic Front movement is the Zambian ruling political party. It is currently the most widely supported political party in Zambia. The Party was formed by Michael Sata as a breakaway party of the MMD in 2001. This was after the then-president Frederick Chiluba nominated Levy Mwanawasa as the... |
28.7 | 43 | |
| United Democratic Alliance United Democratic Alliance (Zambia) The United Democratic Alliance is an alliance of parties in Zambia. It is formed by the* United Party for National Development* United National Independence Party* Forum for Democracy and Development... |
17.3 | 26 | |
| Independents | 2.0 | 3 | |
| United Liberal Party United Liberal Party The United Liberal Party is a political party in Zambia. It was formed in July 2006 by Sakwiba Sikota after he lost the contest to become leader of the United Party for National Development. In the 28 September 2006 National Assembly election results the party won 2 out of 159 seats. The ULP later... |
1.3 | 2 | |
| National Democratic Focus National Democratic Focus The National Democratic Focus is a political party in Zambia. It won 1 seat in the 2006 election.... |
0.7 | 1 | |
| Presidential appointees | |||
| 8 | |||
| Appointed speaker | |||
| 1 | |||
| Total | 100 | 159 | |
| Source: EISA | |||